Rotary duplicator



A. BESSAT ET AL Feb. 3, 1925.

ROTARY DUPLICATORl Filed Jan. 12, 1524 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb, 3; 1925.

A. BESSAT ET AL ROTARY DUPLICATOR Filed Jan. l2, 1924 3 Sheets-'Sheet 2 Feb, 3, 1925.

1,524,727 A. BEssAT 5T AL ROTARY DUPLICATOR Filed Jan. 12, 1924 feet 5 NVENTR5" fing@ le Ze .fsa f ne? etapa/Zhu.: z'even ATTUR/vgy Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

ADOLPHE Busser AND LEON LOUIS LIvnNs, or' NANTERRE, FRANCE.

ROTARY DUPLICATOR.

Application led January 12, 1924. Serial No.685,806.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, ADOLPHE Bussi-rr, citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Nanterre, France, post-oflice address 16, Ruey du Vieux-Pont, and LoN Louis LrvnNs, citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Nanterre, France, post-olce address 19, Rue du Vieux-Pont, have invented certain -new and useful Improvements in Rot-ary Duplicators, of which the `following is a specification.

This invention relates to a development of the apparatus described in our prior application filed 21st September 1922.

The present construction is characterized by a novel arrangementof the printing cylinders, which are four in number and superposed in pairs, for the purpose of effecting two-colour printing on both side of al sheet. Thesaid construction diffe-rs from ythe-apparatus described in the above-mentioned-application because of themanner in which the upper cylinders are supported and because of certain other constructional details, all as will hereinafter appear.

A constructional example of theduplicating apparatus according to the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the duplica- -tor lfitted with 'four printing cylinders.

Figure 2 is a section on line ii-B of 'Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows in elevation' one of the pivoted levers supporting the upper printing cylinders.

Figures 4 and 5 areplans showing the motion-transmitting elements or clutch members in operative and inoperative position, respectively.

Figure 6 is 'an elevation of a duplicator according to this invention` fitted only with two superposed printing cylinders and suitable for printing on one face of a. sheet-or simultaneously on both faces. Y

Referring 'to Figures 1 and 2, the duplicator comprises four main elements which are the printing cylinders 1-, 2, 3 and 4. In the apparatus according to this invention these cylinders (of the type described in application No. 589,693, dated 21st September' 19.22, and referred to in the foregoing), are superposed yin pairs and 'are provided each with a stencil pattern to be reproduced. yThe said cylinders vare however' -dilferently zfixed in position; the lower cylinders v2 and 4 are the further purpose ofleeping up the rotaf" tion of the said upper cylinders 1 and 3 when the latter are out of contact with.' the lower cylinders 2 and 4. To this-end, the said supporting levers S and 9arepivoted'at 12 on the frame 5, the pivot `aXis of v eea-ch lever being coincident with the axis-ofthe associated toothed'wheel 122% (Figures v1-,#3, 4 and 5). It maybe clearly-seen from Figure 4 that owing to this arrangement the upper cylinders are rotated through :the medium of the toothed wheels 14 when the said cylinders arco-ut of contact with the lower cylinders. The supporting leversy 8 and 9 are provided with'eXte-nsionsor arms 15 and 16 (Figures 1, 2 and 3). The=outer ends of the springs 17 and 18 are secured to the lower ends of the said arms,-the inner ends of said springs being secured Ito the frame 5 so that the upper cylinders 1 and@ are -pressed against the lower cylinders 2 and 4.

The armsl and-16 may be moved with the aid of two sets of cams '19 andv2()k actuated ley/means of handles 21.and,22, for the purpose of holding the uppercylinders` 1 and 3 awa-y from the lower cylinders 2 and 4 while the duplicator. is being. made ready for work. The duplicator is worked by means of the crank handle 23 wherefrom motion is transmitted to the 4variousmele-l ments through the toothed wheels shown in chain lines. Then vthe apparatusis operative the rollers 24 and 25 lcarriedfon the toothed wheels 26 and 27 come periodically into contact .with the arms 15 and 16 of hther -pivoted supporting levers 8 and VThe the printing cylinders so thatit `is rpicked up bythe latter when .they comein contact.

again. The sheet is now gripped and advances between. the two cylinders 1 and 2 to be printed a first time on both faces. The said sheet is now led through the medium of a guide plate 29 to the drying cylinders 30 and 31; it passes along between the same and reaches the two printing cylinders 5 and 4 between which it is provided on both sides with the complementary colour printing. The sheet passes over a guide plate 32 and between the drying cylinders 33 and 34 and finally reaches a collecting tray (not shown). The dryingl rollers and 34 belong to a group of elements supported on frame members 3G pivoted to the frame 5 at 37 so that the said group of elements mayY be moved outwards when the printing cylinder 4 is to be removed. rlhe frame inembers are held in position by two hooks 3S. The drying rollers 30, 31. 33 and are similar to those described in our prior application hereinbefore referred to.

A variety of printing may be carried out by means of the apparatus just described, e. g.:

1. Two-colour printing on both faces of a sheet;

2. One-colour printing on one face of a sheet and two-colour printing on the other;

3. One-colour printingon both sides of a sheet.

4. Two-colour printing on one side of a sheet 5. One-colour printing on one side of a sheet.

One, two or three printing` cylinders are removed according to the kind of printing required, and if they are lower cylinders, they are replaced by rubber-faced pressure cylinders placed according to circumstances in one of the supports 39 and 40.

The operative connection between the cylinders and the driving mechanism may be removed to render the cylinders idle and for setting them in their correct relative position after they are clamped to the machine. To this end, the clutch mechanism illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 ha-s an axially movable toothed wheel 14 which may be thrown, by means of the linger-piece 42, in and out of mesh with the motion-transmitting toothed wheels 13 and 41. Each of the printing cylinders 1.r 2. 3 and 4 has a clutch mechanism yof this type, operated by means of the finger'pieees 42, 43, 44 and 45 respectively. The movable wheel 14 is of course thrown into mesh with the other two wheels after the setting operation is completed.

The automatic feeder is similar to that described in our prior application No. 676,543, filed 23rd November 1923. The said feeder is suspended from the supports and held in position y the clamping device 55 secured to t tie-rod 56 of the frame 5.

The automatic feeder is actuated off the toothed wheel 57.

As mentioned in the foregoing, Figure 6 illustrates a duplicator fitted with two superposed printing cylinders only and designed either for simultaneously printing on both sides of the sheet or for printing on one side thereof. To this end the lower cylinder is removed and replaced by a rubbersurfaced pressure roller or cylinder. This construction needs no further description, as it is replica, minus two cylinders. of the duplicator fully described in the foregoing.

(lonstructional modifications may be made to the above-described construction of the apparatus without departing from the invention.

1. In a rotary duplicator, the combination of a pair of super-posed, coacting ele- Aments, one of which is a printing cylinder mounted in vertically movable bearings; pivotally-mounted supporting levers con nected with said bearings to shift the saine when rocked and thereby move the cylinder f away from its coacting element; a system of intermeshing gears for driving said coacting elements; and projections on certain of the gears in such system for periodically engaging and automatically rocking the levers.

2. In a rotary duplicator, the combination of a pair of superposed, coacting elements. one of which is a printing cylinder mounted in vertically movable bearings; pivotallymounted supporting levers connected with said bearings to shift the same when rocked and thereby move the cylinder away from its coacting element; a system of intermeslr ing gears for driving said coacting elements; projections on certain of the gears in such system for automatically engaging and rocking the levers at regular intervals; and a manual device operative at will upon said levers to rock the same.

3. In a rotary duplicator, the combination of two pairs of superposed, coacting ele ments arranged in spaced, parallel relation, one element of each pair being a printing cylinder mounted in vertically movable..

bearings; a pair of pivotally-mounted supporting levers connected with each pair of bearings to shift the same when rocked and thereby move the cylinder away from its coacting element; a system of intermeshing gears connected with both pairs of elements to drive the same; and projections on certain of the gears in such system for periodically engaging and automatically rocking the levers.

4. In a rotary duplicator, the combination of two pairs of superposed, coacting elements arranged in spaced, 'parallel relation, one elementtof each pair being a printing cylinder mounted in vertically movable bearloo ings; a pair of pivotally-mounted supporting levers connected with each pair of bearings to shift the same when rocked and thereby move the cylinder away from its coacting element; a system of intermeshing gears connected with both pairs of elements to drive the same simultaneously; projections on certain of the gears in such system for periodically engaging and' operating both pairs of levers automatically at regular intervals; and a manual device associated with each pair of levers to engage and operate either pair at will independently of the other pair.

5. In a rotary duplicator, the combination of a pair of superposed, coacting elements7 one of which is a vertically movable printing cylinder; a pair of supporting levers for said cylinder connected at one end therewith and pivotally mounted intermediate their ends; means operative upon said levers to rock the same and thereby move said' cylinder away from its coacting element; and a train of gears for rotating said cylinder and including a gear at one end ot' thel cylinder, and a gear for driving the first-named gear having its axis coinciding with the axis ot' pivotal movement of said levers, whereby the rotation of the cylinder may be continued while it is out or' contact with its said coacting element.

6. In arotary duplicator, the combination of a pair of superposed, coacting elements,

one of which is a vertically movable printing cylinder; a pair of supporting levers for said cylinder connected at one end therewith and pivotally mounted intermediate their ends; means operative upon said levers to rock the same and thereby move said cylinder away from its coacting element; a train of gears for rotating said cylinder and including ay gear at one end of the cylinder, and a gear for driving the first-named gear having its axis coinciding with the axis of pivotal movement of said levers, whereby the rotation of the cylinder may be continued while it is out ort contact with its coacting element; and means for interrupting at will the drive from the second-named gear of the train to the first-named gear thereof.

7. A rotary duplicator, according to claim 6, in which the interrupting means comprises a clutch carried by the adjacent lever and interposed between the secondand first-named gears.

8. A rotary duplicator, according to claim 6, in which the interrupting means comprises an intermediate gear carried by the adjacent lever and shitable laterally out of and into mesh with the secondand firstnamed gears. v

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

ADOLPHE BESSAT. LON LOUIS LIVENS. 

